President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo urged African leaders to take strong action to implement sustainable forest management policies, stop illegal activities, and support communities that depend on forests.
He emphasized the importance of investing in research and technology to better understand how forests work, which is essential for improving efforts to plant new trees.
President Akufo-Addo made these remarks at the closing of the International Conference on Afforestation and Reforestation in Brazzaville on July 5, 2024, where he spoke to leaders dedicated to protecting the world’s forests.
“Our forests are vital ecological assets and an integral part of our heritage and identity. We must protect and restore them for future generations,” the President wrote on his Facebook page after the event.
In Africa, he explained further “our forests are invaluable.”
“They provide ecological, economic, and cultural benefits that are essential to our way of life. However, they are threatened by illegal logging, agricultural expansion, and climate change.
“As leaders, we must take decisive action to implement sustainable forest management policies, combat illegal activities, and support the livelihoods of communities dependent on these ecosystems. Investing in research and technology to enhance our understanding of forest dynamics is also crucial to improving our reforestation efforts,” the President stressed.
On the part of Ghana, he said the West African country has made significant strides in forest restoration.
“We have established over one million hectares of forest plantations, enrichment planting, and native tree seedling projects. These efforts have created rural employment for thousands and supported food security through agroforestry initiatives. Our Green Ghana Day Initiative, launched in 2021, has seen the planting of over 52 million trees in just four years, thanks to the enthusiastic participation of citizens, schools, and the private sector.” he said.
“We need increased and dedicated financing to sustain our efforts. The tropical domain, home to nearly half of the world’s forests, cannot fund the required $393 billion annually alone.
“We must pool resources and incentivize local communities to protect forests. Let us think globally but act locally, prioritizing environmental stewardship alongside development. Ghana remains committed to leading in forest conservation and restoration, thus helping to ensure a sustainable future for all,” he said.
